Veronica plant named ‘Blue Explosion’

ABSTRACT

A  Veronica  plant particularly distinguished by a compact, well-branched plant habit, strong stems, strongly-branched, compact inflorescences, a very floriferous blooming habit with re-blooming and easy to grow a strong and well-developed plant in one season, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Veronica sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Blue Explosion’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Veronica, botanically known as Veronica sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Blue Explosion’. ‘Blue Explosion’ was developed through a cross conducted in the summer of 2006 between the female, an un-named proprietary Veronica sp. seedling (unpatented) and the male parent, an un-named proprietary Veronica sp. seedling (unpatented) in Haarlem, The Netherlands. ‘Blue Explosion’ was selected as a single plant in June 2007 and was first propagated in summer 2007 via softwood cuttings.

‘Blue Explosion’ has been propagated for approximately 4 generations via softwood cuttings and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via softwood cuttings in Haarlem, The Netherlands.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. ‘Blue Explosion’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Haarlem, The Netherlands.

-   -   1. A compact, well-branched plant habit;     -   2. Strong stems;     -   3. Strongly-branched, compact inflorescences;     -   4. A very floriferous blooming habit with violet buds and         re-blooming; and     -   5. Easy to grow a strong and well-developed plant in one season.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Veronica plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of two-year-old plants grown in Haarlem, The Netherlands in July 2010.

FIG. 1 shows a whole plant, including leaves, buds and inflorescence.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the inflorescence.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of a mature leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Blue Explosion’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on two-year-old plants grown outdoors in Haarlem, The Netherlands in July 2010. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Veronica sp.         -   Denomination.—‘Blue Explosion’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—An un-named, proprietary Veronica sp.             seedling (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—An un-named, proprietary Veronica sp. seedling             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright.         -   Life cycle.—Herbaceous Perennial.         -   Shape.—Inverted triangle.         -   Growth rate.—In the spring, about 8.0 cm per month.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Plant height (from top of soil).—64.4 cm.         -   Plant width (horizontal plant diameter).—43.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 4 months.         -   Branching description.—Freely branching from the base.         -   Basal branching.—Present.         -   Average number of lateral branches per plant.—5 main stems.         -   Lateral branch length (excluding the inflorescence).—39.6             cm.         -   Lateral branch diameter.—7.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—3.4 cm.         -   High temperature tolerance.—At least tolerant to             temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius.         -   Low temperature tolerance.—At least tolerant to temperatures             as low as USDA Zone 4. -   Stem:     -   -   Appearance.—Rounded and slightly glossy.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—RHS 144A and RHS 144B (Green).         -   Pubescence.—Densely pubescent; average length of hairs is             0.5 mm and greyed-white (the pubescence is too small to be             accurately measured by R.H.S. but is close to RHS 156D). -   Leaves:     -   -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.         -   Arrangement and type.—Opposite, single.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—24 (12 pairs).         -   Shape.—Ovate, sinuate and curved.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Length.—11.8 cm.         -   Width.—4.8 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface is moderately glossy; lower surface             is slightly glossy and smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Upper surface is sparsely covered with very             short hairs that are 0.2 mm in length, and greenish-white             (hairs are too small to be accurately measured with R.H.S.).             Lower surface is smooth except for main vein, which is             sparsely covered with very short hairs that are 0.3 mm in             length and greenish-white (hairs are too small to be             accurately measured with R.H.S.).         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 143C (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 144B and RHS 144C (Yellow-green).         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 144A (Yellow-green).         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137C (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-green).         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: Average             width is 4.0 mm. Color: RHS 144B (Yellow-Green). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Compound terminal raceme.         -   Height.—28.1 cm.         -   Width.—11.9 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Primary racemes             average approximately 300; secondary racemes average             approximately 125; each inflorescence holds an average of 24             secondary racemes.         -   Flowering habit (length of flowering season).—Continuously             from July to late September.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—1,100.         -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—2,200.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—16,000.         -   Time to flower.—Approximately 8 months when field-grown.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Rate of flower opening.—Of the terminal raceme,             approximately 20% are open at any given time; of the             secondary racemes, approximately 35% are open at any given             time. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Length.—4.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Rate of opening.—Approximately 20% opens at once; all             flowers have opened in approximately 8 weeks.         -   Color.—RHS N88C (Violet) and RHS 144A (Yellow-green) at the             base (immature. calyx). -   Flowers:     -   -   Aspect.—Outward.         -   Type.—Campanulate.         -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—Approximately 7 days.         -   Diameter.—7.0 mm.         -   Depth.—5 0 mm.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Petals.—Appearance: Dull, smooth. Quantity per flower: 4.             Arrangement: Campanulate, lower 30% or 40% fused. Shape:             Obovate, lower petal narrow obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Fused. Margin: Entire. Length: 6.0 mm and lower petals             average 5.0 mm. Width: 2.5 mm and upper petals average 2.0             mm.         -   Color when opening (both surfaces).—RHS 90B (Violet-blue).         -   Color when fully opened (both surfaces).—RHS 90C             (Violet-blue); fades to RHS 90A (Violet-blue).         -   Calyx.—Shape: Rotate. Length: 3.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Rotate. Texture: Dull, smooth. Quantity             per flower: 4. Shape: Narrow ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Cuneate, lower 5% fused. Margin: Entire. Length: 3.0 mm.             Width: 1.0 mm. Color: Immature (both surfaces): RHS 144A             (Yellow-green). Mature (both surfaces): RHS 137B and RHS             137C (Green); base is lighter, RHS 143B and RHS 143C.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 27.8 cm. Diameter: 3.0 mm. Color: RHS 143B             and RHS 143C (Green). Angle: Primary racemes are straight             upright, secondary racemes are at an average angle of 30             degrees. Strength: Strong.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 1.0 mm. Diameter: 0.5 mm. Angle: 60             degrees. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: RHS 144A             (Yellow-green). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 2. Filament: Length: 9.0 mm. Color: RHS 94B             (Violet-blue). Anthers: Shape: Dorsifixed, sagittate. Width:             1.7 mm. Color: RHS N77A (Purple). Pollen amount: Moderate to             high. Pollen color: RHS 4D (Yellow).         -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Pistil length: 6.0 mm. Stigma: Color:             RHS N92B and RHS N92C (Violate-blue). Shape: Clavate. Style:             Color: RHS 93B (Violet-blue). Length: 5.5 mm.         -   Ovary.—Color: RHS 144B (Yellow-green). -   Fruit/seed set: No fruit or seeds observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No more susceptible or resistant than     other Veronica varieties.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘Blue Explosion’ differs from the female parent, a proprietary un-named Veronica plant (unpatented) in that ‘Blue Explosion’ has more strongly branched and compact inflorescences than the female parent. Additionally, ‘Blue Explosion’ has a deep violet-blue flower color whereas the female parent has lighter blue flowers.

The male parent of ‘Blue Explosion’ is no longer available for comparison.

‘Blue Explosion’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Pink Panther’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,311) in that ‘Blue Explosion’ has a violet flower bud color and violet-blue flowers, whereas ‘Pink Panther’ has red-purple flower buds and flowers. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Veronica plant as described and shown herein. 